July 4 celebrations and events scheduled for Hatteras and Ocracoke

Fireworks are again scheduled on Hatteras Island for July 4 at Avon Pier, and both Hatteras village and Ocracoke have events and activities scheduled all day long on Saturday, July 4,  including the traditional and very popular Old Time Parade in Ocracoke and the newer but popular Golf Cart Parade in Hatteras.

Islanders and visitors should remember that all fireworks – except the show at the Avon Pier — are illegal in all of the villages of Hatteras and on Ocracoke and on all National Park Service lands and beaches.  Call 911 to report illegal fireworks.

Here’s the rundown so far for Saturday, July 4:

AVON FIREWORKS

Fourth of July Fireworks at the Beach is sponsored by the Avon Property Owners Association and funded in part by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau.  The fireworks display will begin about 9 p.m. from a launch site at the end of the Avon Pier, permitted by and in cooperation with the National Park Service.

This event is additionally made possible through donations from the Hatteras Island business community, residents, property owners, and guests.

Corporate sponsors for this event are Avon Property Owners Association, Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative, Greater Kinnakeet Shores Homeowners Association, Outer Banks Ace Hardware, Koru Village & Spa, Outer Beaches Realty, Sun Realty, Hatteras Realty, and Surf or Sound Realty.

Sponsors are Kinnakeet Shores Property Owners Association, Cape Pines Motel, Askins Creek Store, Cape Hatteras Motel, Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo Civic Association, Conner’s Supermarket, Lighthouse View Motel, Resort Realty, Burger Burger, Gidget’s Pizza & Pasta, Hatteras Island Boardsports, Froggy Dog, Turner’s High Moon Bar, Ketch 55 Seafood Grill and  WIND-NC.

Radio Hatteras will broadcast “Music for Fireworks” from 9 until 10 p.m. at FM 101.5 and 99.9. And the station will also play patriotic music at the top of each hour. You can stream Radio Hatteras live on your computer.  Go to www.radiohatteras.org.

Parking for the fireworks is limited so walk or ride a bike if you can.

HATTERAS VILLAGE

The annual July 4th in the Village celebration will start at noon and end late on Saturday in Hatteras village, sponsored by the Hatteras Village Civic Association and the Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation.

The schedule is:

Noon until 5 p.m.  Art show, flea market, fun, and food in the Village Center.

3:30 p.m. Golf Cart Parade.  Begins at Harbor Seafood and winds through the village.  Spectators can park along Highway 12 in the village to watch.

5 p.m.   Hatteras Village Volunteer Fire Department’s weekly summer fish fry at the station.

7 p.m. Street Dance with live music by Dragon Fly on Community Center lawn.

Anyone interesting in having a booth at the art show can contact Trish Dempsey at 252-216-5580 or Trish_chs@yahoo.com.  To pre-register for the parade, e-mail hatterasevents@yahoo.com.

 
OCRACOKE

The Independence Day celebration on Ocracoke will begin early and continue into the evening.

Events include:

8 until 10 a.m. – Ocracoke Ponies.  Meet Hazelnut, the newest member of the herd, at the Pony Pens.
9 a.m . — Flag Raising Ceremony and singing of the National Anthem with Ocracoke Boy Scouts and Samantha Styron on the School Circle.
9:30 a.m. until noon — The 39th Annual Sand Sculpture Contest at the Lifeguarded Beach.
10 a.m. until 2 p.m. — Classic Cars on the Pony Island Motel Lawn.
10 a.m. until 2 p.m. — Ocracoke Lighthouse open for public viewing and history with island natives. Parking is limited and organizers suggest you walk or bike.
3 p.m. — Old Time Ocracoke Parade. Entrants should register by 2 p.m. on the 4th at Ocracoke Station (gas station). Forms are available at the Post Office and throughout the village. Download form at WOVV.org, and return to Parade@WOVV.org. Parade route starts at Ocracoke Oyster Company, left on Lighthouse Road, right on Creek Road, right on Silver Lake Drive, follow road around harbor to Parade’s end at NPS Parking Lot.
5  p.m. — Donald Davis’ Stories—Bring a chair! Books to be Red Lawn .
6 p.m. Community Square Stage. National Anthem and patriotic songs followed by awards presentation and announcement of parade and sand sculpture winners.
6:30 until 7:45 p.m. — Traditional Ocracoke Square Dance at the Community Square with Molasses Creek and Phillip Howard as caller.
8:30 until 10:30 p.m. – Dance Party with the Ocracoke Rockers at the Community Square.

The July 4 events are sponsored by the Ocracoke Civic and Business Association with lots of assistance. Live broadcasts will be by Ocracoke’s WOVV 90.1.